Will become 3rd largest economy soon:

Rajnath

Kolkata: India will become the third largest economy in the world in the next few years, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed on Friday.

“The day is not far when our country will emerge as the third largest economy in the world. At least international reports suggest that India will attain that position in the next four to five years,” the defence minister said while addressing the convocation ceremony of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagorefounded Visva Bharati University at BolpurSantiniketan in Birbhum district of West Bengal. The Union Minister said being a former teacher of physics with a college in Uttar

The day is not far when our country will emerge as the third largest economy in the world. At least international reports suggest that India will attain that position in the next four to five years.

—Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister

Pradesh, whenever he attends any function of any educational institution, he prefers speaking in the tone of a teacher rather than a minister or a politician.

“When I was on my way to this great university on Thursday evening, I was constantly thinking of what I can offer to the meritorious students of this university that will ultimately benefit them,” he said.

Bengaluru (Agencies): Former Chief Minister, BJP Central Parliamentary Committee Member B.S. Yediyurappa on Friday said the training imparted by RSS and Sangh Parivar is responsible for his rise in politics.

In his farewell speech on the last day of the 15th Assembly session, the veteran leader gave all credit to RSS for his growth and stated that he can never forget its contribution.

“I am speechless, unable to figure out what to say,” he said. “I thank the people of Shikaripura constituency for having elected me continuously. I will be 80 years old on February 27. On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is arriving to inaugurate the Shivamogga airport. This is a matter of joy and complacency for me,” he said. Yediyurappa stated he got many good opportunities in life.

taking direct orders from Delhi L-G: AAP to officials

The Lt Guv’s office & AAP dispensation have been engaged in a tussle over a host of issues

New Delhi (PTI): The AAP government on Friday asked officials to stop taking directives from Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena and report any such orders from him to their respective ministers, a move that may trigger a fresh tussle between the ruling party and the LG office. According to an official statement, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said the government has warned that any such orders received directly from the LG are a violation of the Constitution and directives of the Supreme Court. He said the imple-

EPS wants to capture party: Panneerselvam

Chennai (ANI): A day after the Supreme Court affirmed the Madras High Court division bench decision that restored Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) as the AIADMK party’s single leader, expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam on Friday said EPS wanted to capture the party.

“Amma is the permanent general secretary

AIADMK party leader Panneerselvam of our party and we passed a resolution on it. Nobody has the power to act against this resolution. ,” he said. mentation of orders, that are in violation of SC directives and the

Constitution, will be viewed seriously. The LG office and the AAP

AAP’S SEHRAWAT AND OTHERS CAST VOTE

New Delhi (PTI): AAP rebel Pawan Sehrawat on Friday cast his vote during the election for six members of the MCD’s standing committee amid jeers by his former colleagues, many of whom termed him a “traitor”. The AAP councillor joined the BJP ahead of the crucial municipal House meeting.

dispensation have been engaged in a tussle over a host of issues, includ-

Mahua Moitra hits back at RaGa over ‘TMC’s idea in Meghalaya’ barb

Shillong (ANI): Coming down heavily on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his charge that the Trinamool Congress was in cahoots with the BJP, TMC leader Mahua Moitra said her party was the only national alternative to the saffron party.

The TMC MP’s remarks came in response to Rahul’s claim on Wednesday that the ruling party in West Bengal was contesting the Meghalaya Assembly polls to ‘help’ the BJP win.

At a public meeting in support of TMC can- didate from North Shillong, Elgiva Gwyneth Rynjah, Moitra said, “Had the Congress been able to defeat the BJP, there would be no need for us (to contest the Assembly polls).

However, since Congress failed to win the state, we had to step forward to provide an alternative to the people. The TMC is the only alternative (against the BJP).”

Germany to pursue submarine deal with India

New Delhi/Berlin:

Germany will pursue a $5.2 billion deal with India to jointly build six conventional submarines in the country during Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s February 25-26 visit, two Indian and two German sources said.

The naval project is the latest attempt by a Western military manufacturing power to wean New Delhi away from its dependence on Russia for military hardware.

India wants to replace its ageing submarine fleet, with 11 of its 16 con- ventional submarines more than two decades old, as it seeks to counter China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Navy also has two indigenous nuclear-powered submarines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government wants India to manufacture more weapons at home in collaboration with foreign partners after decades of being one of the world’s largest arms importers.

The submarine project, for which Germa- ny’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is one of two international bidders, will be discussed between the two coun- tries during Scholz’s trip and Berlin would support the deal, one source said.

Under the deal, a foreign submarine manu- facturer will have to partner with an Indian company to build the submarines in India. ing the government’s proposal to send school teachers to Finland for training. On several occasions in the past, AAP leaders have accused the LG of bypassing the elected government of Delhi and issuing orders to officials. The vexatious CentreDelhi government row over control of services is being heard by the Supreme Court.

The foreign company will also need to transfer a niche technology for fuel-cell-based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), a clause that has been a sore point for most foreign firms.

France’s Naval Group had pulled out of the project just ahead of PM Modi’s visit to Paris in May 2022, citing its inability to meet conditions listed by the Indian government in 2021.

Ex SC Judge Abdul Nazeer takes oath as AP Governor

Vijayawada (ANI):

Justice (Rtd.) S Abdul Nazeer was sworn in as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh on Friday.

The Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, administered the oath of office to the new Governor at a function held at Raj Bhavan on Friday.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, his wife YS Bharati Reddy, Chief Secretary Dr K.S. Jawahar Reddy, several sitting ministers, High Court Judges and senior officials attended the swearing-in function.

Justice Nazeer succeeds Biswa Bhusan Harichandan as the Andhra Governor, Justice Nazeer was